Tomorrow (Thursday September 28) is Prairie Bible College's Day of Prayer for the Fall semester. It is wonderful to serve at a school that sets aside a day to intentionally help our students focus on the discipline and privilege of prayer. In line with looking forward to the Day of Prayer, I realized last night as I did my brief devotional reading for the evening, that I have not even been thinking about one of my personal goals for the year, never mind actually doing that goal: to spend 15 minutes a day in silence before God.
For any person, it is difficult to hear the voice of God in the midst of life's busyness. It is even more important for leaders to take time and just be silent before God. And thus, I appreciate the reminders and opportunities set aside to do so, like PBC's Day of Prayer. When I take the time to be in silence with God, I find that a) it calms and relaxes me, b) I see a different perspective on a concern/issue, c) I am better able to differentiate between what is good and best, what is a "critical success factor" and what is an average task to be done, d) I am significantly more likely to hear God's still small voice.
So - even if you can't have a day of prayer set aside in your schedule - take a few minutes and just be silent before God. (Psalm 46:10)
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
House - "God doesn't limp"
If you are not a regular watcher of the television show, "House MD" then
a) you should start watching immediately! (okay next Tuesday on Fox/Global will have to do) and b) you won't understand this posting very well.
I am an avid "House, MD" fan mainly because I identify with him too well. I think there are at least three reasons:
1) He is brilliant and so am I.
2) He is proud, sometimes abrasive, brash, apparently uncaring, and not really worried about either of those. If the first statement above didn't make that obvious, ditto again for me.
3) He has a physical handicap that does NOT define him as a man, even though people often think it does. Again, ditto.
Hence, when the "Cane and Able" episode (Tues Sept 12) concluded with Dr House being told that Dr Wilson and Dr Cuddy did not want him to know that he had been correct about a previous diagnosis (the previous week's episode) because he needed some humility, otherwise he'd think he was God, Dr. House's reply "God doesn't limp" was just the perfect answer. (I am still in awe of the incredible writing of that final scene even a week later!)
You see, as a person with a visible physical disability, who likely does overcompensate for that by expressing over-confidence, even pride or cockiness, I also am aware - way more than most people get to see - that I am NOT perfect. Only God is perfect and whole and complete. I see my imperfections every day when I look in the mirror or have to get in my power wheelchair or cannot reach something on a not-that-high shelf. I know I am not "perfect" - physically, spiritually, emotionally, etc.
But when I am good and excellent at something, I do not want that gift/talent to be taken away. I am very much, often painfully, aware of what I canNOT do. But don't take away or discredit what I can do... and then try to explain/justify that you are doing so to help me learn humility or any other lesson... and I will be as angry/frustrated as Dr House.
Its amazing that God chooses, and in fact enjoys using weak, imperfect tools to accomplish His purposes and show His glory. I know that I am not God... Dr House knows that he is not God.... because God doesn't limp.
a) you should start watching immediately! (okay next Tuesday on Fox/Global will have to do) and b) you won't understand this posting very well.
I am an avid "House, MD" fan mainly because I identify with him too well. I think there are at least three reasons:
1) He is brilliant and so am I.
2) He is proud, sometimes abrasive, brash, apparently uncaring, and not really worried about either of those. If the first statement above didn't make that obvious, ditto again for me.
3) He has a physical handicap that does NOT define him as a man, even though people often think it does. Again, ditto.
Hence, when the "Cane and Able" episode (Tues Sept 12) concluded with Dr House being told that Dr Wilson and Dr Cuddy did not want him to know that he had been correct about a previous diagnosis (the previous week's episode) because he needed some humility, otherwise he'd think he was God, Dr. House's reply "God doesn't limp" was just the perfect answer. (I am still in awe of the incredible writing of that final scene even a week later!)
You see, as a person with a visible physical disability, who likely does overcompensate for that by expressing over-confidence, even pride or cockiness, I also am aware - way more than most people get to see - that I am NOT perfect. Only God is perfect and whole and complete. I see my imperfections every day when I look in the mirror or have to get in my power wheelchair or cannot reach something on a not-that-high shelf. I know I am not "perfect" - physically, spiritually, emotionally, etc.
But when I am good and excellent at something, I do not want that gift/talent to be taken away. I am very much, often painfully, aware of what I canNOT do. But don't take away or discredit what I can do... and then try to explain/justify that you are doing so to help me learn humility or any other lesson... and I will be as angry/frustrated as Dr House.
Its amazing that God chooses, and in fact enjoys using weak, imperfect tools to accomplish His purposes and show His glory. I know that I am not God... Dr House knows that he is not God.... because God doesn't limp.
Reflections on Sept 11 (part 2)
The third leadership lesson to reflect upon in light of the fifth anniversary of 9/11 is:
3) People continue to pursue hope and health amidst tragedy
The various stories of how individuals & families have turned their tragedies of losing a loved one on that terrible day show the resiliance of people. The story that I was able to appreciate the most was that of the widow of Garnett "Ace" Bailey - a former NHL hockey player who was the head scout for the Los Angeles Kings at the time of a 9/11 flight that took his life. She has honoured her husband's memory by contributing to a hospital in the Boston area that helps children.
I would suggest that the human ability to pursue hope and health amidst tragedy comes from the fact that we are created in the Image of God (I've just been looking over Genesis 1-2 in preparation for a class tomorrow). It is not because people are inherently "good." Rather it is because the human beings/the human race can still reflect and represent a small part of the completely perfect and good God in whose image we were created, even though we are radically infected with a sinful nature/predisposition in a world affected thoroughly by evil and its effects.
I'll stop preaching now and thank God that amidst agony and pain, He is still sovereign, He is still good, and He enjoys and is glorified most when we as people pursue the Hope God offers through Christ in the midst of apparently tragic situations.
3) People continue to pursue hope and health amidst tragedy
The various stories of how individuals & families have turned their tragedies of losing a loved one on that terrible day show the resiliance of people. The story that I was able to appreciate the most was that of the widow of Garnett "Ace" Bailey - a former NHL hockey player who was the head scout for the Los Angeles Kings at the time of a 9/11 flight that took his life. She has honoured her husband's memory by contributing to a hospital in the Boston area that helps children.
I would suggest that the human ability to pursue hope and health amidst tragedy comes from the fact that we are created in the Image of God (I've just been looking over Genesis 1-2 in preparation for a class tomorrow). It is not because people are inherently "good." Rather it is because the human beings/the human race can still reflect and represent a small part of the completely perfect and good God in whose image we were created, even though we are radically infected with a sinful nature/predisposition in a world affected thoroughly by evil and its effects.
I'll stop preaching now and thank God that amidst agony and pain, He is still sovereign, He is still good, and He enjoys and is glorified most when we as people pursue the Hope God offers through Christ in the midst of apparently tragic situations.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Reflections on Sept 11 (part 1)
First, thanks to the advice of a wise woman, I will henceforth cease from apologizing for my irregular blogging. As this wise woman pointed out, blogging by its very nature is at the wish of the author so it cannot be "late" or "too infrequent" if that's what the blog author decides.
Although the ubiquitous coverage in the past 24 hours of the five year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks - including both ABC's and CBC's "documentaries" which I did not watch - is already long past annoying and its not even noon in Alberta, it is appropriate to reflect from a leadership perspective on what has happened since that tragic day.
1) "Trust" and "leadership" never appear positively in the same sentence.
Watergate and Richard Nixon had pretty much eliminated the words "trust" and "leadership" from being used positively in the same sentence for the last quarter of the 20th century, but as the new millennium dawned, there seemed to be a tinge of hopefulness that respect for those in authority could once again appear, perhaps not in describing a particular nation's leaders but at least in reference to some global leaders, whether in business, politics, religion, NGO's, the media, etc. But 9/11 has pretty much finalized any hope of the "trust" and "leadership" being connected for at least one more generation of humankind.
2) Increase in Religious and Cultural discrimination
Again, the end of the 20th century appeared to be a time of hope as people around the world that "we can all love one another" (whatever that means?). It would appear not... Or at least not without some other underlying impetus/source beyond the fictitious "I'm a good person" idea. Research has been cited in the past few days showing what most of us have discovered and are daring to admit - that we do look suspiciously at people with a different colour of skin, even though we know it is wrong to judge solely on that basis. That we do fear that most Islamic people are terrorists, even though we know better in our moment of sanity. Just as the cultural mindset of North America (and arguably the rest of the world) was rapidly affirming that "tolerance is the greatest virtue" we were jolted back into the reality that every belief system is not "similar" and every culture/religion is not morally good or even morally neutral. Any culture or religion is by its very nature "discriminatory."
To be continued...
Although the ubiquitous coverage in the past 24 hours of the five year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks - including both ABC's and CBC's "documentaries" which I did not watch - is already long past annoying and its not even noon in Alberta, it is appropriate to reflect from a leadership perspective on what has happened since that tragic day.
1) "Trust" and "leadership" never appear positively in the same sentence.
Watergate and Richard Nixon had pretty much eliminated the words "trust" and "leadership" from being used positively in the same sentence for the last quarter of the 20th century, but as the new millennium dawned, there seemed to be a tinge of hopefulness that respect for those in authority could once again appear, perhaps not in describing a particular nation's leaders but at least in reference to some global leaders, whether in business, politics, religion, NGO's, the media, etc. But 9/11 has pretty much finalized any hope of the "trust" and "leadership" being connected for at least one more generation of humankind.
2) Increase in Religious and Cultural discrimination
Again, the end of the 20th century appeared to be a time of hope as people around the world that "we can all love one another" (whatever that means?). It would appear not... Or at least not without some other underlying impetus/source beyond the fictitious "I'm a good person" idea. Research has been cited in the past few days showing what most of us have discovered and are daring to admit - that we do look suspiciously at people with a different colour of skin, even though we know it is wrong to judge solely on that basis. That we do fear that most Islamic people are terrorists, even though we know better in our moment of sanity. Just as the cultural mindset of North America (and arguably the rest of the world) was rapidly affirming that "tolerance is the greatest virtue" we were jolted back into the reality that every belief system is not "similar" and every culture/religion is not morally good or even morally neutral. Any culture or religion is by its very nature "discriminatory."
To be continued...
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Leading on the Edge
Sorry I've been away from blogging for so long. With the start of another academic year, its always crazy... and always exciting! Life in Three Hills could be pretty boring with PBI students.
Yesterday (LabourDay) the big news - other than that the Calgary Stampeders trounced the Edmonton Eskimos in the annual Labour Day Classic! - was that Steve Irwin, aka "The Crocodile Hunter" died in a freak accident while shooting a special new series of his famous television show. And as I thought about that news item, it did bring me back to the theme of leading on the edge of danger or leading in treacherous waters. One book that I found helpful over the last year on this topic was Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky's Leadership on the Line (Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 2002).
While anyone in leadership will experience critical/dangerous situations in which the outcome can literally hinge or one or two crucial decisions, I would also suggest that for a Christian leader, the element of the spiritual battle cannot be overlooked as a part of steering an organization in turbulent times. Throughout the Gospels and the rest of the NT, followers of Jesus were warned to be alert spiritually and to pray in order to deal wisely in decision making.
Yesterday (LabourDay) the big news - other than that the Calgary Stampeders trounced the Edmonton Eskimos in the annual Labour Day Classic! - was that Steve Irwin, aka "The Crocodile Hunter" died in a freak accident while shooting a special new series of his famous television show. And as I thought about that news item, it did bring me back to the theme of leading on the edge of danger or leading in treacherous waters. One book that I found helpful over the last year on this topic was Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky's Leadership on the Line (Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 2002).
While anyone in leadership will experience critical/dangerous situations in which the outcome can literally hinge or one or two crucial decisions, I would also suggest that for a Christian leader, the element of the spiritual battle cannot be overlooked as a part of steering an organization in turbulent times. Throughout the Gospels and the rest of the NT, followers of Jesus were warned to be alert spiritually and to pray in order to deal wisely in decision making.
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